U.S. stocks were poised for a higher open on Thursday after a three-day drop for the S&P 500 as data pointed to a strengthening economy that appeared likely to overcome the impact of a steep drop in oil prices. Dow Jones industrial average futures were up 0.29 percent at 17,592, S&P 500 futures were up 0.38 percent at 2,034.25 and Nasdaq 100 futures were up 0.33 percent at 4,241.

** STAPLES INC, Wednesday close $14.815, +9.48 pct premarket

** OFFICE DEPOT INC, Wednesday close $6.725, +9.74 pct premarket

Activist investor Starboard Value LP disclosed a 5.1 percent stake in Staples and raised its holdings in Office Depot to about 10 percent, possibly setting the stage for a merger of the struggling office-supply retailers.

** WET SEAL INC, Wednesday close $0.2789, -46.93 pct premarket

The women's apparel retailer said on Wednesday it may seek to restructure under provisions of the bankruptcy code if it fails to address liquidity in the near term. The company said strategies may include out-of-court restructurings. Wet Seal also reported a 9 percent decline in third quarter sales.

The hazmat suit maker's third-quarter loss widened as operating expenses rose, driven primarily by higher freight out and commissions expenses. The company said on Wednesday that the main impact from Ebola-related orders will begin to be realized only in the fourth quarter.

** NEWLINK GENETICS CORP, Wednesday close $36.88, -6.45 pct premarket

** MERCK & CO INC, Wednesday close $59.98, -0.15 pct premarket

A clinical trial of an Ebola vaccine developed by Merck and NewLink has been halted temporarily as a precautionary measure after four patients complained of joint pains, the University of Geneva Hospital said on Thursday.

About 40.7 million shares are being sold by stockholders of the maintenance services provider including Carlyle Group and Clayton, Dubilier & Rice LLC, HD Supply's second and third-largest investors.

** RESPONSE GENETICS INC, Wednesday close $0.525, +4.76 pct premarket

The New York State Department of Health approved use of the diagnostic test maker's cancer test, ResponseDX, in the state. Response Genetics launched the product in the United States in February.

** NIELSEN NV, Wednesday close $43.77, -2.67 pct premarket

The TV rating service provider said affiliates of Blackstone Group, Thomas H Lee Partners, Hellman & Friedman and AlpInvest Partners plan to sell 20 million shares in a secondary offering. The offering represents about 5 percent of Nielsen's total outstanding shares, according to Thomson Reuters data.

** RADIOSHACK CORP, Wednesday close $0.55, -5.55 pct premarket

The struggling electronics retailer said it expected its cost cutting to save more than $400 million annually but did not say when that would be achieved.

The Canadian yogawear chain reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit as online sales jumped 27 percent. The company, which is facing increased competition in a niche market it once dominated while grappling with executive departures and lawsuits, marginally raised its adjusted profit forecast to $1.74-$1.78 per share from $1.72-$1.77 for the year ending early February.

** CENOVUS ENERGY INC , Wednesday close $18.58, -1.88 pct premarket

Canada's No. 2 independent oil producer said it plans to reduce capital spending by about 15 percent in 2015 as oil prices plunge.

** GOOGLE INC, Wednesday close $528.04, +0.37 pct premarket

Google said it was closing its news-linking service in Spain next week due to new legislation under which publishers can charge search engines for using their content.

Shares in the company fell on Thursday as traders said investors were selling the stock after buying a bond that converts into shares. The car maker priced a $2.5 billion mandatory convertible bond due in 2016, as well as an offering of 87 million shares at $11 dollar each.

** EBAY INC, Wednesday close $55.27, +0.25 pct premarket

The online retailer is mulling plan to cut thousands of jobs early next year, as it readies to spin off its PayPal unit, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the company's thinking.

** RADIAN GROUP INC, Wednesday close $16.89

** ASSURED GUARANTY LTD, Wednesday close $25.5

The biggest U.S. private mortgage insurer is close to a sale of its financial guaranty business to Assured Guaranty for around $800 million, according to people familiar with the matter.

** AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC, Wednesday close $54.84

** PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL INC, Wednesday close $86.38

The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a bill giving big insurance companies such as American International Group and Prudential Financial relief from part of the 2010 Dodd-Frank oversight law.

** WALGREEN CO, Wednesday close $68.15, +2.01 pct premarket

Walgreen said Chief Executive Greg Wasson would retire and hand the reins on an interim basis to the head of Alliance Boots Holdings Ltd, a move that follows a series of events that has tested investor confidence in the U.S. drugstore chain.

** SANOFI SA , Wednesday close $45.86, +1.11 pct premarket

Sanofi's new CEO will continue its strategy of diversifying beyond new drug development, possibly through acquisitions, the French drugmaker's interim chief executive said.

** MOMO INC

The Chinese mobile chat app firm, backed by Alibaba Group, that will list on the Nasdaq on Thursday, said its chief executive will fight allegations of misconduct and corruption made by his former employer. (Compiled by Lehar Maan in Bengaluru; Editing by Simon Jennings)